We understand that sales taxes can be a nightmare for a retailer trying to sell to everyone everywhere at once. What’s taxed in one state is tax-exempt in another, and then a third state only taxes that product above a certain dollar value. Most major online retailers have figured out this mess, but what do you do when a website charges you tax on an item that you know is exempt? [More]
Retail Services
Walmart’s Jet.Com Charged Me Sales Tax On Tax-Exempt Items. What Can I Do?
By 3.28.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
18 Injured After Mall Escalator Reverses Direction, Speeds Up
By 3.27.17
Escalator chain reactions can happen when one person stumbles and falls, or when people use a non-working escalator as a staircase and it suddenly starts moving again. In Hong Kong over the weekend, a 150-foot mall escalator abruptly reversed direction and flung screaming shoppers to the ground, injuring 18 of them. [More]
Amazon Delays Opening Of Checkout-Less-Convenience Store
By 3.27.17
If you were hoping to stop by one of Amazon’s new new checkoutless, cashier-free convenience stores soon, you’ll have to put that plan on hold: A new report says the company isn’t quite ready to open Amazon Go to the public due to technical difficulties. [More]
Feds Shut Down “Risk-Free” Online Marketing Scheme Peddling Golf, Kitchen Products
By 3.24.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
As we’ve mentioned before, many companies try to lure consumers into purchasing products — be it skincare treatments or weight-loss supplements — by plastering offers for “free” or “risk-free” trails on advertisements. But as federal regulators reminded us once again, these deals often aren’t free, and don’t come without risk. [More]
Class Action Over The Meaning Of ‘Sale’ Means Harbor Freight Customers Get Refunds
By 3.24.17 — Updated: 5.9.17
Have you shopped at any of discount tool chain Harbor Freight’s 750 U.S. stores recently? A recent class action settlement over the chain’s understanding of how a “sale” works means that customers can get refunds that range from 10% to 30% of whatever they spent at the store, or a $10 gift card. [More]
Additional Hoverboards Recalled Over Fire, Explosion Risk
By 3.24.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
Last year, federal safety regulators recalled 501,000 ”hoverboards” from eight manufacturers amid concerns that the not-actually-hovering devices’ lithium-ion battery packs posed a fire hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has added another manufacturer and 500 scooters to the recall list. [More]
Instacart To Pay $4.6M, Revise Service Amount Description To Resolve Class Action Lawsuit
By 3.24.17
Back in 2015, and again last year, Instacart shoppers took their growing ire over worker classification, as well as tip and service amount changes, a step farther by suing the grocery delivery startup claiming it broke state and federal labor laws, the company has agreed to settle the class-action suit for $4.6 million. [More]
Here’s How Macy’s Is Trying To Lure Shoppers
By 3.24.17
Despite the closure of dozens of stores and an all-but-dead takeover deal, Macy’s isn’t quite ready to throw in the ol’ retail towel. Instead, the company is focusing on the future, implementing new services, revamping store features, and revising coupons in a bid to bring in shoppers. [More]
Amazon Prime Air Drone Drops Off Sunscreen In First U.S. Demo
By 3.24.17
When Amazon completed its first ever drone delivery in the United Kingdom last year, the company released official footage touting its latest milestone. But its first demo flight on this side of the pond was a much quieter affair, captured by a bystander at a recent company event. [More]
Police: Man Hid In Sears Store At Closing Time, Tried To Steal $830K In Jewelry
By 3.24.17
At closing time in any store, you want to make sure that no one is hiding out inside, planning to pull off a heist once all of the employees have left. That never really happens, though, right? A man in suburban Maryland is accused of hiding in a Sears, then smashing jewelry display cases with a hammer and stealing their contents. [More]
GameStop Closing At Least 150 Stores This Year Amid Falling Sales
By 3.24.17
Efforts by GameStop to drum up business — through the phenomenon that was Pokemon Go and diversifying its portfolio by acquiring more than 500 new AT&T dealer stores — were no match for consumers’ changing preference for digital downloads over physical copies. To that end, the struggling retailer will close at least 150 stores by the end of the year. [More]
Starbucks Customer Gets Mad At Barista, Returns With Apology Note & $50
By 3.23.17 — Updated: 3.25.17
Most stories we write about unhappy customers returning to the scene of their displeasure end badly — sometimes burn-down-the-building, drive-your-car-into-the-restaurant badly. So we’re relieved to bring you a tale of an angry Starbucks customer who came back to the coffee shop to apologize and compensate the barista she felt she’d wronged. [More]
Here’s How CEO Eddie Lampert Could Survive A Sears Bankruptcy Just Fine
By 3.23.17
Edward S. Lampert is the manifesto-writing chairman, CEO, and biggest shareholder of Sears Holdings. Lampert’s hedge fund keeps lending the flailing retailer money, but if the parent company of Sears and Kmart doesn’t manage to escape its death spiral, Lampert won’t lose everything. [More]
Wells Fargo Customers Won’t Need A Card To Get Cash At ATMs Anymore
By 3.23.17
Can’t be bothered to carry a debit card, but need some cash on the go? Not a problem for Wells Fargo customers with smartphones, as the bank is rolling out its cardless technology at all of its roughly 13,000 cash machines. [More]
McDonald’s Selling Bottled Big Mac & Filet-O-Fish Sauces… In Canada
By 3.23.17
For years, McDonald’s has been toying with consumers’ apparent love of its “Special” Big Mac sauce by hosting limited-time giveaways of bottles and containers of the condiment. Now, the company is ready to actually sell this sauce — along with the condiments for its Filet-O-Fish and McChicken sandwiches — but you’ll have to go to Canada to score a container. [More]
Say Goodbye To Virgin America: Company Name, Logo To Retire In 2019
By 3.23.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
Now that Alaska Airlines and Virgin America have officially gained approval for their $4 billion marriage, the couple is working out of all the little details of married life, including which airline will be taking the other’s name. To that end: The Virgin America name and logo will disappear, but not right away. [More]
Sears Changes Its Tune: No, We’re Totally Not Doomed
By 3.22.17 — Updated: 5.9.17
After being refreshingly candid in its annual report, admitting that there is a lot of “doubt” about its ability to remain afloat in the long run, Sears Holdings is now doing an about-face, with its chief financial officer assigned to handle damage control. Get your “Sears Holdings Corporate Announcement Bingo card” ready. [More]
Coca-Cola, Pepsi Will Pull 2-Liters From Philadelphia Over Soda Tax
By 3.22.17
The recently enacted sugary drink tax in Philadelphia has not been without controversy, including a soda industry lawsuit, unhappy consumers, and push back from lawmakers. The two biggest names in soda are now making drastic changes to the products they offer — and the people they employ — and blaming it on the tax. [More]
